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Revision as of 16:41, 19 May 2013

Family History PATRON CLASS HANDOUT Library (Ref 943 E5mo)

Abbreviation Table for Meyers

Orts Und Verkehrslexikon

Historical Perspective

From the time of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse) 800 A.D. 10 1806, there was an entity known as the ‘Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,’ ruled by an emperor and the nobility. From 1701 on, a large chunk of this empire was known as the Kingdom of Prussia. When Napoleon Bonaparte began his conquest, the whole empire began to break up. The last ruling family of the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,” the Hapsburgs, retreated into the Eastern Areas, and reorganized the Germanic areas into a new empire, which they ruled. This became known as the Austrian Empire.

Beginning in 1820, Custom Unions began to be established in the Western Areas of the old empire. In the 1860’s the Prussian ministerial president serving under King Wilhelm of Prussia, made a deal with rulers of those Germanic areas Prussia hadn’t been able to conquer such as the Kingdom of Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg, the Duchy of Mecklenburg, and so forth. If they agreed to join with and organize into a new German Empire, they would have some power and authority in the new regime. By January 1871, agreements were reached, and the 2nd German Empire was established. King Wilhelm of Prussia became emperor (Kaiser) and Otto von Bismark became the chancellor.

All rulers of these various Germanic Kingdoms, Provinces, Principalities, Duchies, Grand Duchies and Free Cities now reported to the “national government” in the form of Emperor Wilhelm. The boundaries of each entity were clarified, and they all became “states” in the new empire.

Abbreviation Table and Glossary

Localities in Germany are arranged in the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) according to the boundaries of the 1871 German Empire. For cataloging purposes the gazetteer Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon (FHL call no.: book – Ref 943. E5mo; film- 0,496,640 [Localities A-K]; and fiche – 6,000,001-6,000,029) is used. This is an excellent gazetteer, indicating which of the localities have parishes and which have civil registration offices. The entries of the different localities have many abbreviations. The following list is basically an abbreviation table with a few common words, which will be helpful in using the gazetteer. This list should be allowed some freedom due to interpretation and considering the time frame that these terms were used. Some words have different meanings now or are no longer used.

Those abbreviations or words preceded by … indicate that it can also be used as the end or beginning of a combined word.

Railroad station or stop – with passenger and goods traffic, and telegraph

EGt

- mit Bahntelegraph

- with telegraph

EPs

- nur mit Personenverkehr

- only with passenger traffic

E.

Einwohner

Inhabitants (population count)

Ein.

Einöde

Wilderness, lonely spot

Einn., einn.

Einnahme oder einnehmerei

Clerk's office such as taxes

Eis.

Eisenbahn

Train

Eisenhdl.

Eisenhandel

Iron trade

Elktr.

Ort hat Elektrizitätsquelle

Place has electric power source

Elktrw.

Elektrizitätswerk

Power plant

Els.

Elsaß

Alsace

Emaillierw.

Emaillierwerks

Enamel works

Erziehanst.

Erziehungsanstalt

Reform school

Esk.

Eskadron

Squadron

Etabl.

Etablissement

Establishment

Ev., Ev.

Evangelisch, Evangelische

Evangelical, Protestant (in Germany usually Lutheran)

Ev. Pfk.

Evangelisch Pfarrkirche

Protestant parish church

F

Fernsprecher

Telephone

F

Fernsprecher und Telegraph

Telephone and telegraph

Färb.

Färberei

Dye works

Fbr., fbr.

Fabrik, fabrikation

Factory, manufacturing plant

FG

Forstgutsbezirk

Forest land district

Fil.

Filiale

Branch

Fl.

Flecken

Country-town

Först.

Försterei

Forest ranger station (residence)

Försth.

Försthaus

Forester’s house

Franz. =ref.

Französisch reformierte

French Reformed religion (Protestant)

Fr.

Früher

Formerly

Frht.

Freiheit

Market-town (country-town)

Fürstt.

Fürstentum

Principality

G.

Gericht

Court

G.

Gusbezirk

Land district

Garn.

Garnison

Garrison

Gasw.

Gaswerk

Gas works

GB.

Gerichtsbezirk

Court district

Gef.

Gefängnis

Jail

geh

Gehörig

Belonging (to)

Gem.

Gemeinde

Community (village)

Gen.

General...

General

Genoss.

Genossenschaft

Cooperative

Gerb.

Gerberei

Tannery

Ges.

Gesellschaft

Society

Getreidehdl.

Getreidehandel

Grain exchange

Gew., gew.

Gewerbe, gewerblich(e)

Trade, business, industry, industrial

Gieß

Gießerei

foundry

Gipsw.

Gipswerk

Gypsum factory

Glas.

Glasswerks

Glassworks

glehn.

Gleichnamig

of the same name

Gr...

Groß

Great (part of place name)

Gsth.

Gast-, Wirtshaus, Krug

Inn, pub, tavern, overnight lodging

Gtg.

Gerichtstag

Jurisdictional area of a court

Gut

Gut

Estate, farmstead

Gutsb.

Gutsbezirk

Manorial district

Gymn.

Gymnasium

Academically oriented high school

H., Hr.

Haus, Häuser

House, houses

...h

...haus, ...heim

(as part of a work)-house, -home

ha.

Hektar

Hectare, 2,471 acres

Hann.

Hannover

Hanover, former province of Prussia

Hdl.

Handel(s)

Commerce, also business establishment

Heilanst.

Heilanstalt

Nursing home, sanitorium

Heilst.

Heilstätte

sanitorium

Herrsch.

Herrschaft

Manor, estate, domain

Hessen

Hessen

Hesse, a grand duchy

Hessen-N.

Hessen-Nassau

Former province of Prussia

Hf.

Hafen

Harbor, port

Hosp.

Hospital

Hospital

Holzhdl.

Holzhandel

Timber trade

Hpt

Haupt…

Main

HptSt.

Haupt Stadt

Capital city

Hr.

Häuser

houses

Hrgr.(n)

Häusergruppe (n)

Group of houses

Hüttenw.

Hüttenwerk

Foundry

hzl.

Herzoglich

Of the duke (pertaining to the duke’s possession)

Hzt. (...hzt.)

Herzogtum (…herzogtum)

Duchy

Ind.

Industrie

Industry

Inf.

Infanterie

Infantry

Insp.

Inspektion

inspection

Inst.

Institut

Institute

J.

Juden, Israelitisch, Israeliten

Jews, Israelitic, Israelites

Jagdh.

Jagdhaus

Hunting lodge

i. L.

Jüngere Linie

Younger line

Int. (...int.)

Intendantur (...intendantur)

Office of the stewart of superintendant.

...k.

...kasse oder, ...kirche

Bank, collecting agency, also -church

K.

Kirche

Church

Kalksteinbr.

Kalksteinbruch

Limestone quarry

Kalkw.

Kalkwerk

Lime works

Kam.

Kammer

Land register

Kap.

Kapelle

Chapel

Kat.

Kataster

Land register

kath., Kath.

Katholisch, Katholiken

Catholic

Kath. Pfk.

Katholische Pfarrkirche

Catholic parish church

Kav.

Kavallerie

Cavalry

Kdo.

Kommando

Command (post)

kgl.

Königlich

Royal

…khlbgb.

…kohlenbergbau

Coal mine

Kl

Klein

Little, small (part of place names)

Klbn.

Kleinbahn

Narrow-gauge railway

km.

Kilometer

1,000 meters=3,280.8 ft. or 5/8 mile

Kol.

Kolonie

Colony (usually of small houses)

Koln.

Kolonien

colonies

Kom.

Kommandantur

Office and/or residence of commandant

Komm.

Kommission

commission

Kr.

Kreis

District

KredVer.

Kredit-und (od) Vorschußverein

Loan association

Krankenh.

Krankenhaus

Hospital

Kr.H

Kreishauptmannschaft

Government district (term used mainly in Sachsen)

KrSt.

Kreisstadt

Capital of Kreis

Ksp.

Kirschspiel

Parish

Kt.

Kanton

County (state)

L.

Land(es)

Land, belonging to land

L.

Land

State (like Baden or Lippe)

l.

Links

Left (directional)

LB.

Landbezirk

Rural district

Ldepl.

Ladeplatz

Loading place or dock

Ldkr.

Landkreis

Administrative district

Lederhdl.

Lederhandel

Leather trade

Lehngut, Lehnsgut

Lehnsgut

Estate of feudal lord, fief

Lehrersem.

Lehrerseminar

Teacher training college

LG.

Landgericht

Court (next higher court after Amtsger.)

LGem.

Landgemeinde

Rural community

LHerr(en)Sch.

Landherr(en)schaft

Possessions of the sovereign

LKr.

Landkreis

District

Loth.

Lothringen

Lorrain (Alsace-Lorraine)

LrA.

Landratsamt

Office of the landrat or county commissioner

Lw., lw.

Landwirtschaft, …liche

Farm, farming operation

m

Meter über dem meer

Meters above sea level

Mag.

Magazin

Storage room, warehouse

Masch.

Maschine(n)

Machine(s)

Mdg.

Mündung

Mouth, estuary

Meckl.-Schw.

Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Former grand duchy

Meckl.-Str.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Former grand duchy

Mettalw.

Metallwaren

hardware

Mil.

Militär

military

Mktfl.

Marktflecken

Small market-town

Mkt.Gk.

Marktgerechtigkeit

Market jurisdiction

Ml. (…ml.)

Mühle (…mühle)

Mill (or –mill as part of a word)

Molk.

Molkerei

Dairy

N. (n)

Norden (nördlich), neben

North, to the north, next to

...n.

...nebenstelle

Branch

Neum.

Neumark

Eastern part of the province of Brandenburg

Nd…

Nieder…

Lower (as in Lower Saxony)

NO. (nö)

Nordosten (nordöstlich)

Northeast (northeasterly)

NW. (nw)

Nordwestern (nordwestlich)

Northwest (northwesterly)

NZA.

Nebenzollamt

Nranch custom office

O. (ö.)

Osten (östlich)

East (easterly)

O…

Ober…

Upper (as in Upper Silesia)

O.

Ortschaft

Inhabited place

OA.

Oberamt

Next higher authority after the Amt or (government) office, districts in Württemberg

OFörst.

Oberförsterei

Forest service administration office, head forester’s office

Oldenb.

Oldenburg

Former grand-duchy

OLG.

Oberlandesgericht

(in Prussia) highest court in Province

OPDir.

Oberpostdirektion

Higher postal authority

Ortsch.

Ortschaft

(inhabited) place

Ostpr.

Ostpreußen

East Prussia, Prussian province

P

Postanstalt

Post office

P

Post und Fernsprecher

Post office with telephone

P

Post und Telegraph

Post office with telegraph

P

Post, Fernsprecher und Telegraph

Post office with telephone and telegraph

Papierw.

Papierwerk

Paper mill

PDir.

Postdirektion

District postal authorities

Pf…

Pfarr…

Parish- (coupled with another word)

Pf.

Pfarrei

Parish

Pferdehdl.

Pferdehandel

Horse trade

Pfk.

Pfarrkirche

Parish church

Pomm.

Pommern

Pomerania

Pr., pr.

Preußen (Preußisch), preußisch

Prussia (German Confederation), Prussian

Präs.

Präsidium

Presidium

Prov.

Provinz …(ial)

Province (provincial)(state in Prussia)

Puderw.

Puderwerks

Powder works

Pw.

Personenpostwagen oder autoverkehr

Stage-coach or automobile traffic

Pz. (…dt.)

Polizei (distrikt)

Police (district)

R.

Regierung(s)

Government(al)

r.

Rechts

Right

Rangierbhf.

Rangierbahnhof

Railroad switch yard

RB.

Regierungsbezirk

Administrative district (term used mainly in Bavaria and Prussia)

RB.

Raiffeisenbank

Rural loan institution named after Raiffeisen, the founder

Realsch.

Realschule

Secondary school (high school)

Ref.

Reformierte

Reformed (church), Calvanist

Reg.

Regiment

Regiment (military)

ResidenzSt

ResidenzSt

Capital city

Rg.

Rittergut

Landed estate

Rheinl.

Rheinland, -provinz

Rhineland, Rhine province, Prussian province.

Ritt.

Ritterschaft(s)

Knighthood, knightly

RittA.

Ritteramt

Estate office

S., St., Skt.

Sankt

Saint (St.) in connection with place names, churches and foundations

s. (a.)

siehe (auch)

See or look for (also) meaning look under a second reference

S. (s)

Süden (südlich)

South (southern)

Sa.

Sachsen(Staat)

Saxony, (state)

Sa.-A.

Sachsen-Altenburg

Saxony-Altenburg

Sa.-C.-G.

Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha

Saxony-Coburg-Gotha former duchy

Sägew.

Sägewerk

Sawmill

Sa.-M.

Sachsen-Meiningen

Saxony-Meiningen former duchy

Sa.-W.-E

Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach

Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach former duchy

Sanat.

Sanatorium

Sanitorium

s. auch

siehe auch

See also

Sch.,…sch.

Schule, …schule

School, -school

Schaumb.-L.

Schaumburg-Lippe

Former principality

Schiff.

Schiffahrt(s)

Naval, maritime

Schl.

Schleuse

Sluice (lock)

Schlachth.

Schlachthaus

Slaughterhouse

Schles.

Schlesien

Silesia

Schlesw.-Holst.

Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein; former province of Prussia

Schl

Schloß

Knight’s castle

Schuhm.

Schuhmacherei

Shoemaking

Schwarzb.-Rud.

Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, former principality

Schwarzb.-Sond.

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, former principality

SchwG.

Schwurgericht

Court with a jury

Sem.

Seminar

Seminary (not always religious)

Slg.

Sammlung

Collection

SO. (sö.)

Südosten (südöstlich)

Southeast, southeastern (-easterly)

Soz.

Sozietät

Society, (usually commercial) corporation

Spinn.

Spinnerei

Spinning factory

St.

Stadt

City (municipality)

Stahw.

Stahlwerk

Steelworks

Stat.

Station

Station

StdA.

Standesamt

Civil registrar’s office

StKr.

Stadtkreis

Area included in municipal administration district, as opposed to rural or county government which would be “Landkreis”

StPlan

Stadt Plan

City map

Strbn. (…verz.)

Straßenbahn (…verzeichnis)

Tramway (…register)

Strickw.

Strickwerk

Rope works

StTeil

Stadtteil

Part of a city, ward

St.Verz.

Strassen Verzeichnis

Street index

Syn.

Synagoge

Synagogue

T

Post telegraph

Telegraph office

Thür.

Thüringen

Thuringia

Thur. Wald.

Thüringen Wald

Thuringia Forest

u...

und

And

u...

Unter...

Under, but here pertaining to terrain or territory, like Unterfranken =Lower Franconia, as opposed to Oberfranken =Upper Franconia

usw.

Und so weiter

And so forth

Verw.

Verwaltung

Administration, government

VerwA.

Verwaltungsamt

Administrative office

Veihhdl.

Veihhandel

Livestock trade

Viehmärkt

Viehmärkt

Livestock market

Vw.

Vorwerk

Residence and/or farm of the administrator of a landed estate on an outlying tract of land

Waisenh.

Waisenhaus

Orphanage

Wasserw.

Wasserwerk

Waterworks

Weinhdl.

Weinhandlung

Wine shop, tavern

Westf.

Westfalen

Westphalia

Westpr.

Westpreußen

West Prussia

Wlr.

Weiler

Hamlet

Wp.

Wohnplatz

Residence

Württ.

Württemberg

Former kingdom

Zementw.

Zementwerks

Cement works

Zgl.

Ziegelei

Brick works, tile works

Zh.

Zollhaus

Custom house

Zigarrenfbr.

Zigarrenfabrik

Cigar factory

Zk.

Zinken

Outlying farm (hamlet)

zw.

Zwischen

Between

Words having the ending …erei; …isch; …ungs are abbreviated with a period (.) (thus these endings will have to be added to make the word). Example: Fischerei = Fisch.; Wendisch =Wend. The words ending in …lich are abbreviated after the “l” by a period. Example: nördlich = nrdl.

Population figures after place names, if printed in italics indicate that the census figures of 1905 were used, rather than the 1910 figures, used otherwise throughout the book.